U.S. raid kills top ISIS commander

U.S. commandos conducting a rare ground raid in Syria overnight killed Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) leader Abu Sayyaf, captured his wife, and freed a Yazidi woman held as a slave.

Officials described Sayyaf as a “senior ISIL leader who, among other things, had a senior role in overseeing ISIL’s illicit oil and gas operations—a key source of revenue that enables the terrorist organization to carry out their brutal tactics and oppress thousands of innocent civilians.” The satement issued by the U.S. National Security Council said he also was involved in the militant group’s military operations.

Sayyaf is described as a Tunisian national, but no other information on his identity was immediately available.

U.S. forces suffered no casualties in the attack, even though they engaged in a “fairly intense firefight,” according to an official. About 12 ISIS fighters were killed but no civilians were injured, according to reports. The Army Delta commandos flew from Iraq into eastern Syria aboard V-22 Osprey aircraft and Blackhawk helicopters.

At about the same time, forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad claim to have conducted a raid in the same area, killing at least 19 ISIS members. It’s not clear whether the two attacks are connected. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said the Obama administration did not coordinate any operations with the Assad government.

“We have warned the Assad regime not to interfere with our ongoing efforts against ISIL inside of Syria,” she said. “As we have said before, the Assad regime is not and cannot be a partner in the fight against ISIL. In fact, the brutal actions of the regime have aided and abetted the rise of ISIL and other extremists in Syria.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.